Environmental Activities, Activists, Conferences, and Events:
- Tree planting: In Pakistan, the Billion Tree Tsunami project has planted over 1.2 billion trees, exceeding its goal of planting 1 billion trees by 2023. In Ethiopia, the Green Legacy project aims to plant 5 billion trees by 2025. Tree planting is a simple and effective way to combat deforestation and promote reforestation, which can help mitigate climate change, support biodiversity, and provide economic benefits for local communities.
- Greta Thunberg: Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg founded the Fridays for Future movement, which encourages students to strike from school to demand action on climate change. In 2019, she was named Time Magazine's Person of the Year. Thunberg has become a prominent voice in the global climate movement, inspiring millions of young people to take action and demand more ambitious climate policies from governments and businesses.
- United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP): The most recent COP, COP26, was held in Glasgow, Scotland in 2021. Countries made commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect biodiversity, and provide funding for developing countries to adapt to the impacts of climate change. COP is the most important international forum for negotiations on climate change, bringing together governments, NGOs, businesses, and other stakeholders to address this critical issue.
- Clean Energy Ministerial: The EV30@30 initiative, launched by the Clean Energy Ministerial in 2018, aims to achieve a 30% market share for electric vehicles by 2030. This is just one of many initiatives aimed at promoting clean energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Other examples include the Paris Agreement, the Kyoto Protocol, and the Renewable Energy Directive in the European Union.
- Beach cleanups: In 2019, the Ocean Conservancy organized the International Coastal Cleanup, which involved more than 1 million volunteers in 116 countries collecting 32 million pieces of trash from beaches and waterways. Beach cleanups are just one example of efforts to combat plastic pollution and protect our oceans. Other initiatives include reducing plastic use, promoting recycling and waste management, and supporting policies to reduce marine pollution.
- Sustainable agriculture: In India, the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana program promotes organic farming and sustainable agriculture practices. The program has helped farmers to reduce their input costs and increase their yields while protecting the environment. Sustainable agriculture is an important aspect of promoting food security and protecting natural resources. Other initiatives include promoting agroforestry, reducing food waste, and supporting small-scale farmers.
- Renewable energy: According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the renewable energy sector employed 11.5 million people worldwide in 2019, with the majority of jobs in solar and wind power. Renewable energy is an important part of the transition to a low-carbon economy and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Other initiatives include energy efficiency, carbon capture and storage, and smart grid technologies.
- Climate litigation: In recent years, there has been an increase in climate change-related lawsuits around the world. For example, in 2019, the Urgenda Foundation won a landmark case against the Dutch government, which was ordered to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by the end of 2020. Climate litigation is one way that individuals and organizations are holding governments and corporations accountable for their environmental impact. Other initiatives include shareholder activism, divestment campaigns, and consumer boycotts.
These are just a few examples of environmental activities, activists, conferences, and events. There are many more initiatives and individuals working to protect the environment and promote sustainability, including organizations such as Greenpeace, the World Wildlife Fund, and the Sierra
Bangladesh is one of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, with a large population living in low-lying coastal areas. Despite these challenges, Bangladesh has made significant progress in promoting sustainable development and addressing environmental issues. Some examples of environmental initiatives in Bangladesh include:
- Solar home systems: Bangladesh has one of the largest off-grid solar home system programs in the world, with over 5 million households having access to electricity through these systems. This has helped to reduce the use of traditional kerosene lamps and diesel generators, which are more expensive and polluting.
- Climate-resilient agriculture: Agriculture is a key sector in Bangladesh, but it is also vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. To address this, the government has launched several initiatives to promote climate-resilient agriculture, including the Climate Smart Agriculture project. This project aims to improve agricultural productivity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing resilience to climate change impacts.
- Mangrove restoration: The Sundarbans, a vast mangrove forest in Bangladesh, is an important ecosystem that provides a range of benefits, including protection against storms and cyclones. However, the Sundarbans have been degraded by human activities, such as logging and shrimp farming. To address this, the government has launched a program to plant 1 billion mangrove trees in the Sundarbans, which will help to restore this vital ecosystem.
- Zero-waste cities: The city of Narayanganj has launched a zero-waste initiative, which aims to reduce waste and promote recycling and composting. The initiative has already reduced waste by 80% and has the potential to be replicated in other cities across the country. This initiative has been successful in reducing waste and improving the environment, while also providing economic benefits to local communities.
- Cyclone shelters: Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to cyclones, which can cause widespread damage and loss of life. To address this, the government has built more than 4,000 cyclone shelters, which provide safe havens for people during cyclones and other natural disasters. These shelters are designed to withstand strong winds and heavy rain and have helped to save many lives during past cyclones.
These initiatives demonstrate Bangladesh's commitment to addressing the challenges of climate change and promoting sustainable development. Despite facing significant challenges, the country has made impressive progress in promoting clean energy, sustainable agriculture, and environmental protection. These initiatives have not only helped to improve the environment but have also provided economic and social benefits to local communities.